Coastside
County Water District
Recommendation 50:
CCWD Board should, by fiscal year 1999-2000, improve their public relations
and assure that the staff has current up-to-date information available.

The District accepted
the recommendation, and by July 1, 1999, current copies of regulations,
the Rate and Fee Schedule, Water Supply Evaluation Report, and the report
of the outside auditors were available to the public.

The 1999 Grand Jury
accepts the changes as meeting the recommendation.

Recommendation 51:
CCWD should improve the publication "General Regulations Regarding
Water Service" by eliminating ambiguity and loop holes, defining "exceptional
cases" for connection transfers, and clearly explain priority and non-priority
uses. CCWD should develop a simplified one-page check list and use the booklet
for more detailed information.

The District accepted
the recommendation in part. Because of the complexity of the District policies,
it is difficult to simplify the "General Regulations Regarding Water Service";
however, no complaints about the transfer policy have been received this
year by the Board or General Manager. The District has developed checklists
for (1) obtaining service, (2) transferring "regular" connections, and (3)
conversions of priority to non- priority connections.

The 1999 Grand Jury
accepts the changes as meeting the intention of the recommendation.

Recommendation 52:
CCWD should, by fiscal year 1999-2000, develop a consistent method of
allocating new water connections which does not give preferential bias to
potential users.

Because the Grand Jury
did not include examples of bias in the report, the District is unable to
make changes. However, in the past, the allocation of connections was regarded
as fair, and the recommendation will not be implemented at this time.

The 1999 Grand Jury
suggests that the 2000 Grand Jury checks on the number of complaints on
allocations of connections.

The recommendation
has been implemented. Additional staff has been retained to instruct contractors
in proper procedures and to inspect completed work.

The response is acceptable.

Recommendation 54:
The Board of Directors of the HMB FPD should state its response time objectives
for urban areas and rural areas.

The recommendation
has been implemented and is published in the "Fire Protection Services Agreement"
between the HMBFPD and PMFPD.

The response is acceptable.

Recommendation 55:
The Boards of Directors of the HMBFPD and the PMFPD should begin a process
that will fully merge both Districts which would maximize cost savings.

The Boards disagree
with the recommendation because they have already entered into an agreement
to improve the level of service to both Districts and to provide Paramedic
Firefighters.

The 2000 Grand Jury
may wish to monitor this agreement.

SamTrans
Long Range Planning
Recommendation 56:
The SamTrans Long Range (Strategic) Plan should explore the use of new,
innovative technologies not entirely dependent on fossil fuels. It should
also direct its representatives to the MTC and Joint Powers Authority to
advocate a more comprehensive two-stage plan addressing this issue.

The SamTrans Board
is in fundamental agreement with this recommendation. SamTrans has in the
past and is currently exploring regional and industry-wide strategies to
meet federal and state-mandated emission standards.

The 2000 Grand Jury
may wish to review the Strategic Plan and monitor the progress on this recommendation.

Recommendation 57:
If studies prove positive, it is recommended to the SamTrans Board, the
Transportation Authority, and the CCAG Board that BART's extension to the
southern bayside border of San Mateo County be a part of the SamTrans Long
Range Plan and their representatives to the SamTrans Board be instructed
to include this extension in their plan. Otherwise, alternative mass transit
systems including a high speed railway should be considered.

The SamTrans Board
is in fundamental agreement with this recommendation. The Strategic Plan
will address these issues.

The 2000 Grand Jury
may wish to review the Strategic Plan and monitor the progress on this recommendation.